Anton Bruckner

Into the family of an Austrian village schoolteacher at Ansfelden was born Anton Bruckner on 4 September 1824. Not until eleven years of age did his immense talent receive professional guidance, a matter of concern to Bruckner who sought teaching for much of his life, despite the large-scale works with which he struggled and won, and despite his prowess as an organist and improviser. His dedication to technique delayed start on the symphonies until he was nearly forty. But his organ studies, which led to masterly skill as an improviser, started much earlier. Fortunately, his vast labour composing nine symphonies (the last unfinished) has led to frequent performance and just recognition of his gifts - we can at least say that the world has taken this music to its heart. Bruckner died in Vienna on 11 October 1896.